Current Affairs – January 11, 2018

Paytm has set up a new entity called Paytm Money Ltd that will offer investment and wealth management products and will invest close to $10 million upfront in the new entity. Paytm Money is the fourth product from One97’s stable after Paytm Mall, Paytm Payments Bank and Paytm wallet. It will be available as a separate mobile application to users.
Paytm is run by One97 Communications Ltd.
Vijay Shekhar Sharma is the founder of One97 Communications.

FDI rules further liberalized by Govt of India

In the financial year 2016-17, total FDI of US $ 60.08 billion has been received, which is an all-time high. The Cabinet chaired by PM Narendra Modi has approved amendments in FDI Policy and further liberalized few of the policies of FDI.Key Highlights-
1. 100% FDI under automatic route for Single Brand Retail Trading.
2. 100% FDI under automatic route in Construction Development.
3. Foreign airlines allowed to invest up to 49% under approval route in Air India.
4. FIIs/FPIs allowed to invest in Power Exchanges through primary market.
5. Definition of ‘medical devices’ amended in the FDI Policy.

Aditya Mehta wins Kolkata Open Snooker Championship

Professional player Aditya Mehta won the Kolkata Open 2018 International Invitation Snooker Championship in the capital city of West Bengal Kolkata. This is his third Kolkata Open title since its inception. In the thrilling final he defeated Englishman Professional Player Alfie Burden.

Dilip Asbe appointed MD and CEO of NPCI

National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) has appointed Dilip Asbe as Managing Director and CEO of the organisation. Prior to this, Asbe was CEO-in-charge of NPCI. He had come in place of AP Hota.

Aanchal Thakur wins India’s first ever international medal in skiing

Aanchal Thakur made history by winning India’s first-ever international medal in skiing in Turkey. The 21-year-old clinched bronze in the coveted Alpine Ejder 3200 Cup organised by Federation International Ski Race. She won the medal in the slalom race category.

K.Sivan appointed next Space Secretary and Chairman of ISRO

Rocket scientist K. Sivan, currently Director of the Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre, is to be the next Secretary of the Department of Space, and Chairman of the Space Commission and the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), with a term of three years. Dr. Sivan will shortly take over from A.S. Kiran Kumar as the ninth head of the country’s Space establishment. Mr. Kumar ends his three-year term on January 14. A graduate in aeronautical engineering from the Madras Institute of Technology, ME from the Indian Institute of Science, Bengaluru, and doctorate in aerospace engineering from IIT Bombay, Dr. Sivan became Director of VSSC in June 2015. He joined ISRO in 1982 in the then young PSLV project and has been the project director of the GSLV rocket.